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One of the most important French composers of the 19 th century, Charles Gounod was a contemporary of Mendelssohn, friend of Camille Saint-Sains, beloved colleague of Berlioz, teacher of Bizet, a favorite composer of Queen Victoria, and the grand homme of French music, admired by succeeding generations. It was Gounod who, early on in the century, defined French musical style as elegant, proportioned, melodious, and well-crafted, the model against which so many other composers music was measured. A prolific composer, writing in virtually every musical form of the day, Gounod composed over a dozen operas (including Faust , Romyo and Juliette , and Mireille ), 17 settings of the Mass Ordinary, countless motets and sacred songs, 7 oratorios, 2 full-scale symphonies, over a dozen orchestral works, three string quartets, and many other chamber compositions. In addition to this, Gounod was a famous composer of French song, a prolific writer of essays on music, musical reviews, an autobiography, and personal letters. Gounods influence was strongly felt across the English Channel, too. During the 1880s, Gounods sacred choral music, especially his oratorios, occupied a place equal to that of Handel and Mendelssohn. Given Gounods importance, a research tool dedicated to him and his music is overdue. This bibliography will prove an invaluable aid to future scholars. Author: Timothy Flynn Language: EnglishEdition: 1Binding: HardcoverPages: 280Publisher: RoutledgePublication Date: 2008-12-22
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